Ingot mold



June 2, 1925.

v 2 w LOO. A NT 00 N MM T 1 1 Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES THOMAS MCNALLY, OF MASSILLON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CENTRAL STEEL COM.- PANY, OF MASSTLLON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

moor MOLD.

Application filed December 10, 1924. Serial No. 754,939.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MGNALLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Massillon, county of Stark, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ingot Molds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates broadly to metal founding, and more particularly to certain improvements in the construction of bottom closures adapted especially to ingot molds of the class in which the larger part of the mold is uppermost.

Molds of the character herein contemplated are generally open at both the top and the bottom. During casting, it is cusmeans.

tomary to close the bottom either by means of a stool on which the mold rests, or by means of a stripping plug either with or without the provision of additional sealing It has heretofore been proposed in the art to insure sealing of the bottom open ing by the application of suitable material of a refractory nature, which is spread in position after the stool and mold are assembled. This practice is objectionable in that it requires a special operation for each mold and necessitates a time interval during which the refractory material can dry out. a

The stripping plugs heretofore contemplated have been long enough to project a suitable distance through the bottom of the mold, thereby not only requiring a special tool or support for the mold, but also representing a considerable outlay "for each plug. As these plugs have an extremely short life, usually represented by the formation of a single ingot, it will be apparent that it is highly desirable to provide a closure representing a nominal cost and completely obviating the requirement for a special tool.

The present invention has for its objects the provision of a plug or closure of the character referred to, which not only effectively seals the bottom of the mold during ,the casting operation, but which also serves as a splash plate during the initial casting of the ingot.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes in the construction and use of the plug may be made without departing either from the spirit of the invention or the'scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom portion of an ingot: mold illustrating my improved plug in position therein, and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plug;

It is quite common practice in the art to utilize molds of the class having an opening both at the top and bottom, these molds frequently bein referred to as big-endup molds, it being common practice to strip the ingots from such molds by raising or pushing the same therefrom, or by reversing the molds and dropping out the ingots. If it is possible for the metal to leak from the bottom of the mold so as to form a projecting fin at the lower end of the ingot, the stripping operation is rendered much more difficult, such ingots being frequently referred to as stickers.

In- Flgure 1 of the drawings there is illustrated the bottom portion of a mold 2 of the general class referred to, it being I understood that the mold may assume ,dif-

ferent shapes in accordance with the standard practices prevailing in this respect. The bottom of the mold is provided with the usual stripping opening 3, this opening necessarily being closed during the casting of an ingot. I have found that it is possible to obviate entirely the use of special stools, negative the possibility of forming stickers, and greatly decrease the cost of each plug per ingot by providing a refractory plug 4 which is performed to provide sides 5 tapered to conform to the angularity of the sides of the opening 3. Preferably, the maximum diameter of the plug 4 will be slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the opening 3, whereby when the plug is in position it will project a slight distance into the mold cavity, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The plug also is dimensioned with respect to the thickness of the mold walls, whereby when in operative position in a mold it will not project below the plane of the bottom thereof. This enables the mold to be supported in any desired manner, as will be well understood.

The projection of the refractory body of the plug into the mold cavity has been found to be highly desirable as it forms a splash plate effective during the initial casting of the ingot. As the plug is preformed as anarticle of manufacture, it may be thoroughly dried out before it is placed in the mold, thereby obviating any objectionable steaming in contact with the molten metal, and also providing sufficient strength to Withstand the shocks to which it is subjected. The tapered Walls effectively seal the opening and prevent any leakage of metal capable of forming a projecting fin.

When it is desired to strip the ingot, the usual procedure may be followed. Due to the frangible characteristics of the refractory plug it may be broken from the ingot either during the stripping operation or subsequently thereto, as may be desired. 'It has been found that by the use of a plug of this character an ingot having a solid, homogeneous bottom end may be formed, the depression represented by the projection of the plug into the mold offering no objectionto the subsequent handling of the ingot.

It will be understood that the plug may be dimensioned with respect to the opening in the mold whereby the amount of projection may be effectively controlled, it being possible to so form the plug that it will be substantially even with the inner surface of the mold, although such a use does not serve as effectively as a splash plate.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a preformed plug representing a nominal cost, easily handled, and capable of being placed bodily in a mold at will.

I claim:

1. The combination with an ingot mold having a bottom opening, of a removable refractory plug bodily positioned therein, said plug terminated short of the plane of the bottom of the ingot mold and of sufficient height toproject into the mold cavity to form a splash plate, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an ingot mold having a bottom opening, of a removable refractory plug bodily positioned therein,

said plug terminating short of the plane of.

the bottom of the ingot mold, substantially as described.

when in position within said opening, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS MoNALL-Y. 

